Begonia plant named ‘KRVALPI01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘KRVALPI01’ characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; numerous large double reddish pink-colored flowers with bright yellow-colored centers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia×hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KRVALPI01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known asElatior Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KRVALPI01’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new types of Begonia plants withunique and attractive flower forms.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands in January, 2009 of a proprietaryselection of Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code numberKV07K1338-09, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with anunnamed proprietary selection of Begonia socotrana, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Ermelo, The Netherlands in September, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative cuttingstaken in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlandssince January, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this newBegonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KRVALPI01’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KRVALPI01’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Numerous large double reddish pink-colored flowers with        bright yellow-colored centers.    -   6. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in flower color as plants of the female parentselection have orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selectionhave pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants ofBegonia×hiemalis ‘Dark Netja’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Ermelo, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differedprimarily from plants of ‘Dark Netja’ in flower type and color as plantsof ‘Dark Netja’ had semi-double pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘KRVALPI01’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close up views of the upper andlower surfaces of typical leaves (right) and upper, lateral and lowersurfaces of developing and open flowers of ‘KRVALPI01’ (left).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring and early summer in13-cm containers in a shaded glass-covered greenhouse in Ermelo, TheNetherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Begoniaproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesaveraged 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants werepinched one time and were twelve weeks old when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis ‘KRVALPI01’.-   Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number KV07K1338-09,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Begonia socotrana, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at temperatures about            20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About five weeks at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white to orange brown in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density; plants of            the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit and form.—Upright, outwardly spreading and            mounded plant habit; overall plant shape broadly upright and            globular; flowers held above and beyond the foliar plane.        -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate            growth rate; suitable for 12-cm and larger containers; under            optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usually about            ten weeks are required to produce proportional 13-cm potted            plants from cuttings; vegetative shoots are formed at basal            nodes and flowering shoots are formed at upper nodes.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; when pinched, about            seven lateral branches develop.        -   Plant height.—About 26.2 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 33.5 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About            1.1 cm. Internode length: About 2.6 cm. Angle: About 45°            from vertical. Texture: Smooth, sparsely pubescent. Color,            developing: Close to 144A to 144B. Color, fully developed:            Close to 146A to 146B.        -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length: About            14.1 cm. Width: About 9.4 cm. Shape: Ovate to broadly ovate.            Apex: Acute. Base: Oblique. Margin: Bi-serrate; laciniate.            Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Texture,            lower surface: Sparse pubescence along veins. Venation            pattern: Palmate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface:            Close to 141B slightly tinged with close to N199A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B tinged with            close to 176B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker            than between 147A and N189A; venation, close to 146A to            146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B to            147C heavily tinged with close to 178A; venation, close to            146B. Petioles: Length: About 6.4 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely to moderately            pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 152A slightly            tinged with close to 176B; distally, close to 178A to 178B.            Color, lower surface: Close to 152A slightly tinged with            close to 176B. Stipules: Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About            1 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 145B; venation, close to 145A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower form and flowering habit.—Large double rotate flowers            arranged in axillary compound cymes; usually about 5 to 14            flowers per cyme, numerous cymes in flower simultaneously            and about 330 flowers developing per plant; flowers face            upright to outwardly and are positioned above and beyond the            foliar plane.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about six            weeks after pinching; plants flower continuously year round            regardless of nyctoperiod, however plants are more freely            flowering from spring until autumn in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten days on            the plant; flowers not persistent; flowering plants have            excellent postproduction longevity and typical maintain good            substance for about five weeks under interior conditions.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 15 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10.6 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: Ranging from            about 9 mm to 17 mm. Shape: Obovate to broadly oblong,            flattened. Color: Close to 51B.        -   Flowers.—Shape: Rotate; double. Diameter: About 5.9 cm.            Depth (height): About 1.2 cm.        -   Tepals.—Quantity per flower: About four arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 2.9 cm. Width: About 2.9 cm. Shape:            Roughly orbicular. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Texture, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 52A; towards the base,            close to 52B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 48C;            towards the margins, close to 50B. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 52A; towards the base, close to 54B; color            does not change with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 36A; towards the margins, close to 50C;            color does not change with development.        -   Tepaloids.—Quantity per flower: About 40 arranged in            numerous whorls. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 1 cm.            Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Texture, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety. Color, outer            tepaloids: When opening, upper surface: Close to 52A;            towards the base, close to 52B. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 48C; towards the margins, close to 50B. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 52A; towards the base, close            to 54B; color does not change with development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 36A; towards the margins,            close to 50C; color does not change with development. Color,            inner tepaloids: When opening, upper surface: Close to 6A to            6B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 5B and 6C. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to between 4B and 5C; color            does not change with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 4C to 4D; color does not change with            development.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 11.7 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Angle: About 40° from lateral branch axis. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:            About 30° from peduncle axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 152B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None            observed.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Begonia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common    to Begonia has not been observed on plants of the new Begonia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed    to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to    USDA Hardiness Zone 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘KRVALPI01’ asillustrated and described.